Drug Index

Ketamine

Also known as: Special K, K, Kit Kat, Katz, Cereal, Super K, K-hole, CVR (chemical virtual reality).

Ketamine is most commonly found as a white powder that is soluble in both water and alcohol. It is also seen as a clear, odourless and tasteless liquid.

Medical Uses

Ketamine is a compound related in chemical structure and mechanism of action to PCP, and is structurally unrelated to any other psychedelic agents. It was first synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Parke-Davis in the 1963 as an anaesthetic for veterinary surgery and is currently manufactured as a veterinary drug under the names Ketalan (Parke-Davis), Ketajet, Ketaset (Fort Dodge) and Vetalan. Ketamine began to be abused as a recreational drug in the 1970s.

Short Term Effects

Ketamine can be ingested, injected intramuscularly or intravenously, smoked. Depending on the route of administration, Ketamine can begin to act within minutes after consumption and last for about two to four hours. Ketamine can produce hallucinations, euphoria, a floating sensation, confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, and a loss of sense of time and identity. Use leads to a feeling of disconnection of the mind and body. Ketamine causes intense visual distortions and an inability to feel pain. While an average size dose does not usually lead to unconsciousness, a high dose can lead to respiratory depression, convulsions, combative behaviour and even comas. Ketamine has been used in drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Users may become highly confused, paranoid, terrified, aggressive, or passive. Bad trips are more common with PCP than with other drugs. Overdose can cause convulsions, coma, and death. Accidental death can result from drug-induced confusion.

Long Term Effects

Regular use may result in weight loss, exhaustion, flashbacks, paranoia and memory loss.

Tolerance and Dependance

With repeated use, tolerance to Ketamine may develop.

Legal Status

In Canada, Ketamine, its salts, derivatives and analogues are governed by the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act applicable to Schedule I. Unlawful possession is a criminal offence punishable on indictment by imprisonment for up to seven years and on summary conviction for a first offence to a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. A subsequent offence is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of exporting, production, import and export are indictable offences punishable by up to life imprisonment. (Peyote is not covered by this Schedule.)

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